The Gulen Institute organized and hosted its first trip to Turkey for a group of social scientists between February 27th and March 8th, 2009.

Among the participants were sociologists from Rice University, University of Houston, Ohio State University, Brigham Young University, and the University of New Brunswick, Canada.

The trip included visits to sites of historical importance and natural beauty in Istanbul, Ephesus, Konya, and Cappadocia as well as visits to schools, civic organizations and the homes of local families.

The rich set of experiences in the trip provided the participants with an insider’s glimpse of  Turkish customs and hospitality.

Several aspects of the trip to Turkey have been described by participant Dr. McMullen at houstonbelief.com, a blog associated with Houston Chronicle. You can further read the rest of the story under the title of his article “A Synagogue, Church and Mosque in Istanbul.”